diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/36061-mr-ref.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/36061-mr-ref.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..039666070a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/36061-mr-ref.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Instrument MergeRequest#ensure_ref_fetched
+merge_request:
+author:
+type: other
diff --git a/config/initializers/8_metrics.rb b/config/initializers/8_metrics.rb
index 2aeb94d47cd..370a976b64a 100644
--- a/config/initializers/8_metrics.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/8_metrics.rb
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@ def instrument_classes(instrumentation)
 
   # Needed for https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/30224#note_32306159
   instrumentation.instrument_instance_method(MergeRequestDiff, :load_commits)
+
+  # Needed for https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/36061
+  instrumentation.instrument_instance_method(MergeRequest, :ensure_ref_fetched)
 end
 # rubocop:enable Metrics/AbcSize